Last November I took a similar shot to this one that I promised to reshoot (though having looked at the previous one I'm not sure why), so here it is. Well, it's actually the opposite end of the pier, but they're pretty similar nonetheless.
On the whole, while I don't think this is as strong a shot as the previous two, I'm pleased with the way it turned out. I do have some reservations about my decision to go with a relatively restricted depth of field though. Specifically, was it a good idea to let the top of the structure drift out of focus or might it have been better to have used a smaller aperture? I don't know. On the whole I think it works, mostly, but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.
capture date camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
Like it djn - Just about the right amount of white cloud to allow the structures to stand out. I think it was a good decision to present this in BW. Well done.
It remainds me scenes from Frankestein or from other horror made in 20s-30s :) Great atmosphere. Did you think about adding a vignette? :) Or at least some noise or other kind of rubbish that would make it look older.
I think it's great as it is. If you'd got a shorter depth of field it would emphasise the height of the structures and made it look like skyscrapers or something - that would have been entertaining in a way...
comment byJason Wall at 10:24 PM (GMT) on 4 May, 2005
I think this is a stronger shot, mostly due to the clouds. I like the sepia tones better too, and the tighter crop.
comment by Andreas at 10:46 PM (GMT) on 4 May, 2005
Good shot, for sure, I'm having troubles to rank one higher then the other,
'cause they both have qualities in them that I really like.. but this is probably a better shot... just that I have some personal link to the other pic for some reason...
- Great work
I prefer the angle and the DOF on this one. Also the sky is more dramatic here. Great shot!
comment by kate at 02:18 AM (GMT) on 5 May, 2005
love the POV on this one. the way you framed more solid wood on the right and captured that angle anchors and guides the eye to the tower. the tall wood post has a soaring skyscraper feel. i also like the metal structure out of focus- makes it appear more up in the clouds. agree with bmoll- this has a classic black and white film feel. ;))
comment byleova (↑) at 03:34 AM (GMT) on 5 May, 2005
Greta pic. It might have been nice to have seen everything in focus with a smaller aperture but this way around your eye is really drawn to the beautiful detail in the sun-baked wooden beams in the foreground.
That great perspective andwonderful use of black and white... Maybe a little more detail on white clouds on left could be accepted better by eyes... the same for the wood on rigth.. but inany case this is a great picture!!!
I actually prefer this shot over the other one. You've got a strong angle, the post on the right and the wood has a grittier feel. The sky is much more interesting in this shot, or at least it suits the mood better. I'm always a sucker for strong lines in composition .....receding, ascending, descending... whatever! And although black and white suits this well, the color on Piers End #1 is wonderful...and again, strong lines of perspective.
comment bySmallest Photo at 02:42 PM (GMT) on 5 May, 2005
i think overall this shot is more effective. The clouds alone add something very dramatic to the intense perspective.
comment byGord Is Dead at 06:15 PM (GMT) on 5 May, 2005
Certain milkshake quality. Cascading texture. Tasty.
comment by jcyrhs at 06:20 PM (GMT) on 5 May, 2005
Your details in the foreground is simply amazing... wonder if you used any lighting effect on them. it's like...all your photos seem to have a spot light on the subject.
once again beautiful sepia tone. Something i've tried and tried but yet to have your tones and contrast. GREAT PERSPECTIVE!!
bmoll: no, I didn't consider a vignette for this one. It probably would have worked though.
alex: you're welcome.
jcyrhs: no, this one is 'as shot'. What I do tend to do is use the Curves tool to accentuate those areas of the photograph that I want to stand out. Basically, if you want to increase the contrast for a particular area of a shot you need to a) work out the brightest and darkest bits of this area, then b) make this the steepest part of your curve.
comment byAnand Sankaran at 10:27 PM (GMT) on 5 May, 2005
Great shot, the out of focus does not bother me at all.
About DOF, I am sure you could have gotten away if you locked focus a bit farther away, I think you locked focus at about 3-4 feet. Instead at 8 ft subject distance, you would have focus from 3.98 ft all the way through infinity even at f/6.3
Of course the object closest to the camera should have been at least 4 feet away though :), which may or may not be possible.
comment byViSuaLLyMiNDeD at 12:20 AM (GMT) on 7 May, 2005
I guess I'm in the minority, but this is my favorite of the four 'pier's end' photos. your sepia/bw work is always incredible but here it's more than that. The DoF I think is great; it adds dimension and the clouds in this shot are just fantastic. I think the dof contributes to the impression I have of them churning and moving around. excellent!
Last November I took a similar shot to this one that I promised to reshoot (though having looked at the previous one I'm not sure why), so here it is. Well, it's actually the opposite end of the pier, but they're pretty similar nonetheless.
On the whole, while I don't think this is as strong a shot as the previous two, I'm pleased with the way it turned out. I do have some reservations about my decision to go with a relatively restricted depth of field though. Specifically, was it a good idea to let the top of the structure drift out of focus or might it have been better to have used a smaller aperture? I don't know. On the whole I think it works, mostly, but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
2.10pm on 29/4/05
Canon 20D
EF 17-40 f/4L USM
17mm (27mm equiv.)
f/6.3
1/400
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
no
Wow that is a great photo, wonderful tones and great comp. Nice!!
Great detail and contrast in the wood and sky!
Like it djn - Just about the right amount of white cloud to allow the structures to stand out. I think it was a good decision to present this in BW. Well done.
It remainds me scenes from Frankestein or from other horror made in 20s-30s :) Great atmosphere. Did you think about adding a vignette? :) Or at least some noise or other kind of rubbish that would make it look older.
This is a very groovy point of view! And it's warm and lovely. The texture of the wood really stands out - super!
I dig this very much. The shallow DOF gives it a very majestic feel, and the tone of the B&W is superb.
Incindentally, thank you very much for the help with the code on my site. I got everything all squared away. :) I greatly appreciate it.
I think it's great as it is. If you'd got a shorter depth of field it would emphasise the height of the structures and made it look like skyscrapers or something - that would have been entertaining in a way...
I think this is a stronger shot, mostly due to the clouds. I like the sepia tones better too, and the tighter crop.
Good shot, for sure, I'm having troubles to rank one higher then the other,
'cause they both have qualities in them that I really like.. but this is probably a better shot... just that I have some personal link to the other pic for some reason...
- Great work
in b&w the clouds look like another world looking back at us. Reminds me of the visuals from "Halo".
Awesome perspective! And I love the texture of the wood.
I love the tones and the composition. Nice sky. I believe I'd prefer to see the tip of the structure in focus, against a blurry sky.
good good good :)
Good composition. I like all the lines and angles and shapes.
I prefer the angle and the DOF on this one. Also the sky is more dramatic here. Great shot!
love the POV on this one. the way you framed more solid wood on the right and captured that angle anchors and guides the eye to the tower. the tall wood post has a soaring skyscraper feel. i also like the metal structure out of focus- makes it appear more up in the clouds. agree with bmoll- this has a classic black and white film feel. ;))
amazing angle!master!love the sky!thanks
this is so awesome, it made me dizzy : )
Wow. You have some amazing clouds over there. Great capture.
Greta pic. It might have been nice to have seen everything in focus with a smaller aperture but this way around your eye is really drawn to the beautiful detail in the sun-baked wooden beams in the foreground.
That great perspective andwonderful use of black and white... Maybe a little more detail on white clouds on left could be accepted better by eyes... the same for the wood on rigth.. but inany case this is a great picture!!!
I actually prefer this shot over the other one. You've got a strong angle, the post on the right and the wood has a grittier feel. The sky is much more interesting in this shot, or at least it suits the mood better. I'm always a sucker for strong lines in composition .....receding, ascending, descending... whatever! And although black and white suits this well, the color on Piers End #1 is wonderful...and again, strong lines of perspective.
i think overall this shot is more effective. The clouds alone add something very dramatic to the intense perspective.
Certain milkshake quality. Cascading texture. Tasty.
Your details in the foreground is simply amazing... wonder if you used any lighting effect on them. it's like...all your photos seem to have a spot light on the subject.
once again beautiful sepia tone. Something i've tried and tried but yet to have your tones and contrast. GREAT PERSPECTIVE!!
Thanks everyone.
bmoll: no, I didn't consider a vignette for this one. It probably would have worked though.
alex: you're welcome.
jcyrhs: no, this one is 'as shot'. What I do tend to do is use the Curves tool to accentuate those areas of the photograph that I want to stand out. Basically, if you want to increase the contrast for a particular area of a shot you need to a) work out the brightest and darkest bits of this area, then b) make this the steepest part of your curve.
Great shot, the out of focus does not bother me at all.
About DOF, I am sure you could have gotten away if you locked focus a bit farther away, I think you locked focus at about 3-4 feet. Instead at 8 ft subject distance, you would have focus from 3.98 ft all the way through infinity even at f/6.3
Of course the object closest to the camera should have been at least 4 feet away though :), which may or may not be possible.
I guess I'm in the minority, but this is my favorite of the four 'pier's end' photos. your sepia/bw work is always incredible but here it's more than that. The DoF I think is great; it adds dimension and the clouds in this shot are just fantastic. I think the dof contributes to the impression I have of them churning and moving around. excellent!